The Network aims to improve peace, security and democratic development in the Region of the South Caucasus via young women’s increased participation in peace and security policy analysis and planning. We are here to open up a discourse on peace and security and women's participation in Regional developments.

четверг, 11 декабря 2014 г.

WOMEN = PEACE

By Nino Ananiashvili, Georgia

There was this global 16 days of activism “From Peace
in the Home to Peace in the World" on November 25. On this date Women’s
Fund in Georgia organised a film screening of "Pray the Devil Back to
Hell". The screening was held within the scopes of the 16 days of activism
against gender-based violence campaign 2014 theme is Let’s Challenge Militarism
and End Gender-Based Violence! I went to see the film, very hard to watch, very
touchy, very strong personalities - such an emotional film. The discussion was
so live, so active; sometimes very painful but giving hope, that we will never
have the world with this kind of stories; we will only have the world full of
love, peace and prosperity.

“Pray the devil back to hell” is a multi-prize winner
documentary of 2008 about women fighting for peace. Movie tells the story in
first-person style where Leymah Gbowee – Nobel Prize winner in Peace – and
other Liberian women recall the horrible memories of war. Life was a real hell
for citizens of Liberia during 1989-2003 because of the Civil War, starting
between Charles Taylor and governmental forces, where the victims of fighting
and pressure were women and children involved unwillingly and as a result 200,
000 people were killed and raping and shooting was a daily life-style of
Liberians.

Gbowee, a single mother remembers that once she had a
dream where God told her to gather women in church and pray for peace and that
is what happened when ladies of different age, status and even religion where
united weekly in the church looking for solution for peaceful life.

Women’s Peace Movement was founded and the
demonstrations and marching for peace began. Women from many places with their
donations joined the movement. They were wearing white T-shirts and holding the
boards with peace quotes. Finally they made Charles Taylor come out for peace-talking
with them and the meeting was held in Economic Community of Western African
States, in Ghana. Members of Women’s
Peace Movement sent to the dialogue to Taylor stood still to find decision
against war situation in their country and the result came out soon, when
Taylor was convinced to crime against humanity.

After the Taylor’s governing United Nation brought its
troops for peace-keeping but it failed, until all these women, gone through the
war of 14 years showed how to treat the soldier to disarm them. And the
soldiers in need of rehabilitation were drugged children murdering their
parents, friends and each-other later most of them being scarred in physical
and mental way for rest of their lives.

Overall, movie is a chronicle about war in Liberia,
which raises the issue of gender and shows the power of feminism in a country
where women had opposite role. The unity of daughters, mothers, sisters or
grandmothers made an unimaginable revolution from war to peace.

After two years from Taylor’s conviction Liberia
became the first African country electing woman as a president and giving an
example to others that men started the war which was interrupted by the peace reached
by women.

Facts from History

CEDAW

UNSCR 1325

Strategy for engagement and joint actions on confidence building and P2P diplomacy that involve women. Final Report

YOUTH PEACE PLAN OF GEORGIA

This publication is produced within the framework of the project - ‘‘Support Democratic Participation of Young Women in Building Peace and Stability in Georgia’’ implemented in Georgia by International Network for Civil Development - INCD in partnership with Young Women Experts’ Network for Peace and Security (YWEPS) and with the financial support of the Embassy of Canada through Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).